Moscow, December 9. INTERFAX - Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin and Myanmar's Ambassador to Russia Lwin Wu confirmed at a meeting in Moscow the desire of the two countries to maximize the accumulated potential for deepening cooperation in the defense sector, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Thursday.
"The parties gave a positive assessment of the dynamically developing mutually beneficial relations and confirmed their desire to maximize the use of the accumulated potential for deepening cooperation in the defense sector," the Russian military department said.
According to the ministry, at the meeting, the deputy head of the Russian defense Ministry congratulated the newly appointed ambassador on the beginning of his diplomatic service in Moscow.
"The meeting was held in a traditionally friendly atmosphere," the Defense Ministry added.
It was officially reported that Russia is fulfilling contracts for the supply of two Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense systems to Myanmar, Su-30SME fighters, Orlan-10E reconnaissance drones and radar stations.
Russia is ready to provide equipment and weapons to all types of Myanmar's armed forces, Alexander Mikheev, head of Rosoboronexport, told Interfax on August 24.
"Myanmar is one of Rosoboronexport's key partners in Southeast Asia. The company is actively promoting Russian military products to Myanmar for all types of armed forces," Mikheev said.
As Interfax reported, Deputy Defense Minister Fomin visited Myanmar in March. He held talks with the country's military leadership and became a guest of the parade in honor of the 76th anniversary of the formation of the Myanmar armed forces.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Myanmar in January. During this visit, an agreement was signed on the supply of Pantsir-S1 air defense systems, Orlan-10E reconnaissance drones and radar stations to Myanmar.
On January 20, Fomin said that Myanmar in the coming years may receive aircraft and armored vehicles, as well as Russian-made air defense systems. "Russia has already delivered MiG-29 and Yak-130 aircraft, Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters to Myanmar. In the coming years, the possibility of supplying other samples of modern aviation equipment, armored vehicles, Russian-made air defense equipment is being considered," Fomin said.
In 2018, Fomin reported that an agreement had been reached between Russia and Myanmar on the purchase of six Su-30 aircraft.
In March last year, Shugaev told Interfax that deliveries of Su-30 fighters to Myanmar would be completed in 2021-2022. "In 2021-2022, as specified in the terms of the contract," Shugaev said, answering a question about the delivery time of the Su-30 to Myanmar.
The Myanmar armed forces have Russian-made military equipment: Mi-24, Mi-35 and Mi-17 helicopters, MiG-29 fighters, Yak-130 combat training aircraft, Pechora-2 anti-aircraft missile systems. Russian military universities train servicemen from this country.
